Davis Ansah Opoku, Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), says the Audit Service must explain why a special audit on COVID-19 expenditure captured only GH¢96 million in fumigation costs when an investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni found that the government spent at least GH¢720 million.
He described the difference as a “huge anomaly” and said the matter should be brought before the committee for answers from the Audit Service.
“Well, it’s frightening. It’s quite a worrying issue. You look at the figures that were reported and the figures that Manasseh is making claim that have been left out. And I think it’s something that ought to come to the attention of the committee,” he told JoyNews.
According to Mr Opoku, the PAC’s review of the special audit report had already raised concerns about how the work was conducted.
“When the committee met to look at the special audit report, it was quite revealing that it looks like the work was hurriedly done,” he said.
He said the committee would seek clarification from the Audit Service over the discrepancy.
“I will call this an infraction. This is a huge, a very huge anomaly, and for us we will seek questions or answers from the Audit Service,” he added.
The comments follow an investigation by Manasseh Azure Awuni which found that government expenditure on COVID-19 fumigation was at least GH¢720 million, significantly higher than the GH¢96 million captured in the Auditor-General’s special audit.
The special audit was conducted in 2022 after a request from then Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to examine COVID-19 expenditure by ministries, departments and agencies between 2020 and June 2022.
The investigation reviewed expenditure by the Ministries of Education, Transport and Local Government and found evidence indicating that fumigation spending was substantially higher than the amount recorded in the special audit.
